23 - 24 JUNE 2018

BUTTERMARKET SHROPSHIRE UNSIGNED MUSIC STAGE

We aim to bring you the best in new talent each year on the #ShropshireUnsigned stage.Our friends at The Buttermarket and Pro Audio Services enable us to put live music at the heart of our festival and over the years we’ve been delighted to bring you a wide variety of tunes.

Callum Jones, at Pro Audio Services, said: “The live music is a really important part of the festival because it’s a place where people can settle on the grass and be entertained.“There’s always a good mix of music and it provides the perfect backdrop to the festival. This year is no exception and we’re really pleased with the artists that we’ve programmed.”This year’s bill comprises a mixture of bands and singers who’ve performed in previous years – you know, the ones you liked so much that you asked us to bring them back again – along with some new talents.Sit back, get yourself a pint, order some decent street food and enjoy.

Please note, the line-up is subject to change. We do our best and the bands are always great – but sometimes bands are unable to make it at the last minute.

Saturday 24th June

11am- 11.45amChris Del MansoPiano-playing singer/songwriter Chris Del Manso has become something of a habit. And like all the best habits, he’ll be back once more. Chris will be at the festival for a fourth time – it’s become a tradition. Expect something different this year as Chris brings the festival to life with his gentle, piano-based tunes. He’ll set the tone for a great weekend.

12noon-12.45pmTwo Blank PagesAcoustic duo Two Blank Pages are based in Shrewsbury and are ever-popular in the town’s pubs and clubs. They’ll be playing songs from recent EPs and if we’re lucky we might even get a classic cover from them.

1pm-1.45pmGorstey Lea Street ChoirThe Gorstey Lea Street Choir hail from Staffordshire and comprise three great friends, all with a love of brilliant tunes – from The Waterboys to The Clash and from The Jam to Van Morrison. Frontman Michael Clapham used to front The Great Divide before embarking on an acoustic venture with two fellow musicians. “I’ve been to the food festival in recent years and it’s great. We’re looking forward to the busy, middle-of-the-day slot this year when people can look forward to tunes they’ll recognise.”

2.15pm-3pmThe Common Sounds

You might remember them as The Greens, a Shrewsbury acoustic collective who've been together since 2009 and who released their debut album last year. Their music is described as being best enjoyed on a cold winter&rsquo;s night in front of a roaring fire with a glass of red &ndash; or, in our case, while sitting in the sunshine drinking a cider on a beautiful summer afternoon.

3.30pm-4.30pmThe RainbreakersIt’s been a few years since The Rainbreakers graced the stage at Shrewsbury Food Festival. And ever since, we’ve been asking them to come back. The four-piece outfit from Shrewsbury have been hailed as one of the freshest new sounds in the UK blues rock and soul circuit. The band have developed a distinctive sound that fuses blues, rock, pop and soul. The band are particularly fascinated with the sounds of the past, ranging from soul melodies and psychedelic sounds to garage-rock riffs and R&B grooves.

5pm-5.45pmThe Vertigo BandFast becoming one of Shropshire’s most popular unsigned bands, The Vertigo Band play songs from the 1960s to the present day. Expect their set to include music from Ray Charles and Chuck Berry, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, Van Morrison and The Kinks.

Sunday June 25

10.15am-10.45am

Ruby Allen

Ruby Allen is the soaring talent who has won her place on the stage by winning the S-Factor. A talent competition run but Shropshire Festivals and the Shropshire Music Service at the Shropshire Kids Fest in May.

Congratulations Ruby for winning the space on the Buttermarket #shropshireunsigned music stage! We know you are going to be BRILLIANT!!

11am-11.45amJoshua SoleTelford singer Joshua Sole has developed an avid social media following after posting killer tracks to SoundCloud, YouTube and elsewhere.

12noon – 12.45pmPaul HenshawWe’re not supposed to have favourites. We love all our producers, all our bands and all our exhibitors equally. But if we were being hand-on-heart honest, we’d say we really, really, really like Paul Henshaw – except when he sends us texts at 1am when he’s been on the sauce. Stop it, Paul. Just don’t! Paul’s one of our finest, a headliner last year who had an Amazon Top Ten hit with his album You Just Lost The Game. Folk, punk, garage and sincerity – we love him.

1pm-1.45pmFfion DaviesRising local musical talent, Ffion Davies, hails from Much Wenlock and has previously starred at the Hole in the Wall Music Festival. Coming from a musical family, especially on her mother’s side, Ffion could “sing before she could talk”, and we can look forward to self-penned tracks, For The Good, Hiraeth and Tell My Heart That.

2.15pm-3.15pmLibby GliksmanWhere would we be without Libby. Shrewsbury’s favourite singer will be returning for a third year with Adele-esque vocals and summery vibes. Libby has played at all parts of our bill – so this year we decided to give her extra time to play even more songs. Result.

3.45pm-4.45pmCustard ConnectionHigh-energy dance floor fillers, interspersed with slower groovier tracks, and a few heavier rock-outs will be the order of the day when newcomers The Custard Connection round-up a superlative weekend of #ShropshireUnsigned. Bring it on, custard fellas.